Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Luke 6:23-26
As our society turns even further away from God, the idea that there is such a thing as absolute truth is being attacked more and more. In this environment, the temptation arises for Christians to keep the “controversial” parts of our message under wraps. But in seeking the acceptance and approval of this world, we risk giving up far more than we gain. If we are not vigilant, we can end up on the wrong side entirely. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).
Of course it is more pleasant to have the approval and praise of the world around us, but it is far more important to have the approval and praise of our God. The mission of both the church and of individual believers is not to be popular, but to be lights in the darkness. Fulfilling that mission may cause opposition or even persecution, but it is still the only right thing for us to do.
Martin Luther wrote, “Whenever the true message of the cross is abolished, the anger of hypocrites and heretics eases and all things are in peace. This is a sure token that the devil is guarding the entry of that house, and that the pure doctrine of God’s Word has been taken away. The church, then, is in the best state when Satan assaileth it on every side, both with subtle sleights, and outright violence. And (likewise) it is in the worst state, when it is most at peace!”
